Building construction



Feb. 6,- 1923.

Vl. G. FORCIER. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l ORIGINAL FI I ED Nov. 19` 1920.

' Feb. 6, 1923. 1,443,986

W.' G. FORCIER. BUILDING CoNsrRucr oN. ORLGINAL FlLED Nov.-19, 1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Feb.

1,443,986 W, G. FORCIER. Bul LDlNG CoNsTFzucTloN4 QRIGINAL F| LED Nov. 19. 1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 if" /5 i Wem/5 Patented Feb. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. FORCIER, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Original application filed November 19, 1920, Serial No. 425,174. Divided and this application led October 6, 1921.

To alli'wwm -z'z may concer/i: f

Be -it known that I, VILLIAM G. Fonciiln, a citizen of the United States, residing at lllollaston, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts. havel invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building Constructions. of which the following` is a specification. v

This invention relates to building construction and has for its object the provision of means whereby a building may be efficiently ventilated and also to provide a construction which will reduce the material necessary without any loss in the strength of the building and also effect an economy in the time and labor needed to erect a building. These stated objects and such other objects as will hereinafter incidentally appear are attained by the use of the construction and arrangement of elements illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter fully set forth.

rThe present application is a division of an application filed by'me November 19, 1920 Serial No. 425,174.

In the drawingsf Figure l is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a portion of a building embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through a portion of the wall of the building taken approximately in the plane of the first floor of the building;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the same;

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively. a plan view and a front elevation of a block or brick which may be used for the exterior or interior finish of the building;

`Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing another arrangement of the blocks illustrated in Fig. 2.

The foundation l of the building may be of any material and dimensions demanded by the 'owner but the upper portion thereof may be advantageously constructed of poured cement having pipesor tubes'embedded therein so as to provide an outlet ventilator tube 2 which extends preferably in a straight line' entirelythrough the wall, as shown, and also to provide a Ventilating passage or tube 3 which is disposed vertically within the foundation and is adapted to communicate \at its upper end with an outer air space in the Wall as will presently Serial No. 505,848.

appear. rlhe outer end of each of these tubes or passages 2 and 3 is equipped with a screen 4 to prevent the -entrance of insects into the building or Ventilating spaces and a hood 5 of any preferred form is provided over and around the outlet end of each passage so as to prevent the entrance of water. The foundation may be formed, if preferred. of precast concrete blocks having the ventilating passages formed therein when the block is cast or moulded and such construction' will generally be found preferable inasmuch as the blocks may be formed ata central plant and shipped to the point where a building is to be erected. the use of false work or molding at the point of erection being thereby avoided and,consequently, a saving in the time necessary for the completion of the building being effected. At the inner end of each passage 2, a casing 6 is supported in any convenient manner and within the said casing is arrangeda blower 'T which. when in operation, will draw into the cellar the foul air from the rooms of the buildingl and expel the same forcibly and positively through the outlet Ventilating tube 2, as will be readily understood. Byarranging this blower in the cellar of the building it may be conveniently brought into communication` with all the different rooms and it will be out of the way where it will not be apt to be put out of order by chance blows and the slight noise which may attend its operation will not disturb the occupants of the building.

Upon the foundation, I lay a. course of blocks 8 which are preferably precast concrete and are of the form shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 6. Each block consists of a central web 9 having one end slightly ta.- pered or beveled, as s-hownat 10, and provided at its opposite end with ribs or lateral projections ll on each side, the thickness of the webs being oneethird the combined thickness of the' web and the two projections or ribs, and the outer vertical edges or sides of the ribs being located at equal distances from the side faces of the webs, as will be readily understood and as clearly shown. When the blocksv lare properly placed in position, therefore, the central "longitudinal webs thereof'will be disposed inthe central vertical plane of 'the-foundation and anair space will be providedat each, side of the Web between the same 'and the inner and l,11o

outer sheathings of the wall presently mentioned. The block is also provided upon its side faces midway its ends with vertical-ribs or projections 12 corresponding in all respects to the ribs or projections 11 and metallic reinforcements 13 are embedded in the blocks through the said projections, as clearl v shown, the ends of the reinforcements being extended from the outer edge surfaces ofthe projections so that they may be tlied around the studding 14. The blocks are provided at their butt ends, that is to say, the end remote from the beveled or tapered extremity 10, with recesses 15 which are adapted to be engaged by the tapered or beveled extremities of the respectively adjacent blocks so that the proper alinement of the blocks and the binding of the same together in the wall will be facilita-ted. lt will be understood, of course, that as the blocks are laid the several joints will be filled with lmortar or green cement or other plastic binder so that a stable strong wall will be ultimately erected. Y

Obviously, the requirements of effective building necessitate the use of 'blocks of different dimensions and of some-what different sha-pes so as to carry the wall aroundl corners and accommodate chimneys and other building features, such as doors and windows. l, therefore, provide. some blocks, such as that shown at 16 in Fig. 2, from which the intermedia-te ribs 12 are omitted,

the construction otherwise being the same as the bloclr previously described in detail. This block 16 is particularly useful in arranging the `blocks so as to 'break joint Where a break joint arrangement is desired. l also contemplate the pro-vision of such a block as that shown at 17 in Fig. 2, which is designed particularly for use at the corner of a. wall. This block is provided with lateral ribs 18 at one end or with a beveled extremity correspondling to the beveled extremity 1t) as may be necessary in the particular' wall in which the block is to be used and when the projections or ribs 18 are provided a recess 19 corresponding in all respects to the recess 15 will be provided as will be readily understood. The opposite end of the block 17 is enlarged laterally so as to produce a head 20 which in the illustration is rectangular but ma, of course, be of other configuration according to the design` of the' particular building in which it iis to be laid. This head 20 may be solid but 1 prefer t-o form an interior chamber 21 therein to reduce weight and economize material and also tov provide an aiir space in the finished wall which will counteract and neutralize the tendency of moisture 'to accumulate within the wall. One side of this head is provided with a recess 22 corresponding in all respects to the recesses 15 and 19 to receive the tapered or Ibeveled extremlity of an 'through its lower portion and adjacent block. While the head may have embedded therein a reinforcement corresponding to the reinforcement 13, I have illustrated' wooden blocks 23 embedded in the head 20 adjacent the top and bottom thereof so that securing nails may be driven through the studding, indicated at 2d, to secure the same in place. As shown most clearly 'in Fig. 3, the course 8 is composed of blocks, each lof which has an opening .25 formed which may be lilled by solid blocks 26 of the same dimensions as the said opening. The purpose of this arrangement is to permlit the' removal of debris from the wall after the wall has been erected and before the outer sheathing has been put in place, the blocks 26 being fitted into the openings 25 after the debris has been removed. Each of the blocks is provided in its side or its end, or both, with recesses or short grooves 27 to facilitate handling. l

Upon the course 8, l lay a second course of blocks, indicated at 28, which are the same in all respects as the blocks just described in detail except that the openings 25 therethrough are omitted, the several courses of blocks as well as the blocks in each course being united by mortar or cement in a welllrnown manner. The wall is carried to the desired height by lrepeated courses of superposed blocks as will be readily understood and upon the foundation, at the inner and outer sides of the blocks, li erect the studding 111- and 24 at such intervals as may be deemed necessary and as are defined by the several projections 11, 12 or 18. The ends of the metallic reinforcements 13 are carried around the studding and twisted together or otherwise united and to accommodate this application of the reinforcement the studding may be provided with grooves 29 so that the exposed portions of the reinforce- 4ments will not interfere with the application of the sheathing 30. The inner sheathing 31 secured to the inner studding by nails or other fastenings as may be desired and it may be possible at times to utilize the reinforcements 18 for that purpose.A

This inner sheathing may be cardboard or similar material or may be laths to which plaster is to be subsequently applied@ The outer sheathing 30 may also be of any -material now commonly employed for that purpose and upon the outer face of this sheathing 30 any desired finish may be applied. Tn the drawings, l have illustrated stucco 32 as the exterior nish of the buildmg.

1tI will be very readily' understood that when the several courses of blocks have been laid to the desired height and the studding and sheathing connected therewith spaces will be provided, as shown at 33 i`n Fig. 2, which Will extend the entire height of the wall and which may be continued into the roof 34, if desired. These spaces 33 will communicate directly with the several ventilating tubes or passages 3 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3, and a Ventilating air space will be thus formed which will tend to maintain the tem- 'perature of the interior of the building at a uniform degree and which w1ll counteract any tendency of moisture to accumulate within thewall. It is desirable at times to perT mit a circulation of air through this space or plurality of spaces and to this end I provide near the roof of the building through the outer sheathing or wall, a vventilator tube 35 which may be suitably screened, as at 36, to prevent the entrance of insects and the inner end of which may be covered by a damper 37. This damper 37 is connected by a link 38 with an arm 39 secured t o and rising from an operating rod 40 which 1s `slidably mounted in any convenient manner within the air space below the damper and is operatively connected with a lever 45 which is fulcrumed within the inner wall and may be operated from an upper room of the building.

It will also be readily noted that air spaces, designated 46 in Fig. 2, are provided between the several blocks and the inner sheathing 31 and through these spaces I extend lues, indicated at 47 and 48, which establish communication, respectively, betweenlventilator openings 49 and the outlet blower 7, and between fresh air inlet ventilators 50 and a blower 51 mounted upon the roof of the building. The ventilators 49 may conveniently be gratings provided with suitable closure of any well-known type and the flues 47 which lead from said ventilators inthe upper rooms of the building may conveniently be carried between the several joists or floor supports to the air spaces 46, as will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 1. The ventilators 52 in the floors of the lower rooms of the building may be connected with the blower 7 through conduits or tubes 53 disposed in the upper portion of the cellar, as will be readily understood. The fan or blower 51 will be protected from the weather by a housing 54 of any convenient or preferred desi n, the 4only essential being the yprovision o a screen or similar device55 whichwill permit the free access of outside air to the blower while preventing access of birds, insects or rodents. The fan is arranged to deliver air directly into a casing 56 arranged within the roof of the building and the lues 48 are connected directly to the said casing, similar lues 57 leading therefrom to and through the ceilings of the upper roms of the building. At the ends of the several flues 48 and 57, I provide ventilators which consist of grids or reticulated plates-58 from which are suspended domes or arcuate deiiectors 59 upon which the fresh air strikes and by which it is, diverted and spread so as to enter the room in a widely diffused state and strong drafts will be thereby eliminated. To further regulate the flow or to entirely cut it off as may be deemed desirable, I provide dampers 60 immediately above the grids 58 and these dampers are controlled through rock shafts and operating cords 61 depending from said rock shafts.

From the fore-going description, it will be readily seen that I have provided a building construction which will readily conform to the needs of a. highly efficient Ventilating system and have also devised means which will reduce the cost of buildings without any loss in the strength thereof and will expedite the erection of the same.

The arrangement of the building blocks, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is efficient but will produce a. wall of a width or thickness not greatly exceeding the transverseI dimension of a single block at its widest point. It may sometimes be desired to build a wall having a greater thickness than thatI shown particularly in,r Fig. 2 and this need or demand may be met by the use of the same identical blocks shown in said Fig. 2. To that end, the blocks may be arranged in two vertical parallel series, as shown in Fig. 6, with thel intermediate rib 12 of one bloc-k bearing against the side face of an adjacent block between the intermediate rib of the same and the beveled or tapered extremity 1() thereof, and the said tapered end will engage the recess 15 in the same manner as in the previously described wall, while the lateral projection 11 of the block engaged by said tapered end 10 will bear against the side of the first described block between the rib 12 thereon and the tapered end' 10 thereof. A third vertical series of blocks' may be arranged at the side of either one. of the series,

shown in Fig. 6, and obviousiy as many series may be employed as are neededto produce a wall of the desired thickness. As indicated by dotted lines, the innermost series of blocks may have ribs on one side only so that thel inner surface of the wall will be flat and plaster may be applied directly thereto. It will be readily noted thatthe projections or ribs 11 and 12 are so spaced that, when the blocks are assembled in a plurality of series, the lateral projections ofadjacent series will be spaced equi-dist-antly and the series of blocks will be arranged to break joint horizontally as well as vertically without. interrupting the continuity of theI air spaces produced in the finished wall and, no matter how many series of blocks may be employed, air spaces will be produced between the opposed faces of each two adjacentseries.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a block which `may be employed for either the exterior or thel interior finish of the building and will be found especially desirable in bath. rooms, cellars or in some varieties of stores where a smooth polished surface is desired. These blocks are precast concrete bodies having recesses 62 provided on their inner faces so as to reduce the weight andv at the same time leave surfaces sufficient to effect a close tight joint with the sheathing against which the blocks are placed when mortar or other binder is applied. The outer faces of the blocks are grooved or otherwise marked, as indicated at 63, and are given a glaze or polished finish so that they will, when in position, represent small porcelain tiles. The inner or exposed faces of theblocks may, however, be given any' other finish which may be desired and any preferred scheme of ornamentation may be applied thereto. i

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In'building construction, the combination of a. foundation having a Ventilating opening disposed vertically therein and opening through the side thereof, superposed building blocks supported on the foundation and each having lateral ribs on its outer face, the spaces defined by and between Said ribs being vertically alined with each other and with the opening in the founda.- tion, studding erected upon the foundation and tied to said ribs, a sheathing secured upon theyouter sides of t-he studding and closing the spaces defined by the ribs on the building blocks, and a ventilator at the upper -end of the sheathing and extending therethrough.

2. In building construction, the combina-- tion of a foundation having a Ventilating outlet openin formed through the same, superposed blocs supported'on the foundation and provided at their inner sides with lateral ribs, inner Walls carried by said lateral ribs, ventilator openings in the rooms of the building, and conduits extending from said ventilators and communicating with the opening through theI foundation, said conduits extending through the spaces defined by the lateral ribs on the building blocks and the inner walls secured to said ribs.

3. In building construction, the combination of a foundation, superposed building blocks supported on the foundation and having laterally projecting vertical ribs on their inner faces, an inner wall carried by the said ribs, ventilator openings in the rooms of the building, a. ventilator inlet in the roof of the building, conduits connecting said inlet with the said ventilator openings in the upper rooms of the building, and other conduits connecting said inlet with the ventilator openings in lower rooms of the building, the last-mentioned conduits: extendingV through the spaces defined by the lateral ribs on the building blocks and the inner wall carried by said ribs.

4. In building construction, the combination of superposed building blocks each having a groove at one end and having its opposite end fitting in the groove of an adjo1n ing block and each block being provided on its opposite side with vertical ribs, studding disposed against said ribs, reinforcements embedded in the blocks and extending through said ribs and secured to said studding, and sheathing secured to the st-udding and defining air spaces at the sides of the blocks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

wiLLiAi/i e. Foncier.. [L 5.] 

